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Alex Smith is out for the season after suffering a compound fracture in Sunday’s loss to the Houston Texans, officially diagnosed as a broken fibula and tibia. Smith’s devastating injury comes 33 years to the day that another Washington Redskins starting quarterback suffered a very similar injury.
It was Nov. 18, 1985 when Joe Theismann was sacked by New York Giants star edge rusher Lawrence Taylor on Monday Night Football at old RFK Stadium, breaking his fibula and tibia. Smith was sacked by Houston Texans’ Kareem Jackson and JJ Watt, Nov. 18, 2018. Right away just it was evident Smith had a serious lower leg injury much like Theismann, who tweeted about the similarities.
Alex’s leg is exactly like mine 33 yrs ago
— Joe Theismann (@Theismann7) November 18, 2018
But the date of the game was not the only eerie coincidence. The Redskins lost Sunday’s game by the score of 23-21. When Theismann was hurt, the Redskins beat the Giants by the score of 23-21.
The saying is history repeats itself. Unfortunately for Smith and the Redskins their on the wrong side of history repeating.
Same date. Same final score. Insane pic.twitter.com/bdD1FxjXIS
— Dan Steinberg (@dcsportsbog) November 18, 2018
Smith signed a four-year extension with $71 million guaranteed with the Redskins after the team acquired him in a trade from the Kansas City Chiefs back in January. He is 34 years of age and modern medicine makes the likelihood of his return greater than of Theismann, who had to retire due to his injury.
